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DeLeo: Family welfare commissioner should resign

By STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press

Updated:
04/28/2014 01:33:25 PM EDT

Olga Roche

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Monday called on the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families to resign, citing what he said is a severe lack of leadership at the state's child welfare agency.

The Democratic leader, pointing to the recent deaths of two infants -- including one over the weekend -- said Olga Roche, the head of the family welfare agency, has to step down immediately.

"We have to take strong action. We can't wait until the end of the year. We can't wait for a new governor," he added. "We have to take action now."

Authorities say the family of a 2-week old Fitchburg baby who died over the weekend was being monitored by state child welfare officials. And in an unrelated case, a DCF spokeswoman says a fax from Grafton police about possible harm to a 4-month-old baby who later died was misplaced for six days. Both deaths remain under investigation.

Gov. Deval Patrick has expressed confidence in Roche in the past, but a visibly upset DeLeo said the time has passed for Roche to step down.

"We've had three children, three children in the last two or three weeks ... who have now been found dead," DeLeo said. "We can't afford to keep on in this manner."

A spokesman for Roche declined to comment immediately on DeLeo's demand that she resign.

Earlier this month, the body of Jeremiah Oliver, a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy, was found off a highway in central Massachusetts.

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His family was also under DCF supervision at the time of his disappearance. Jeremiah was last seen in September but wasn't reported missing until December. Police said his death appeared to be a homicide.

In February, two dozen Massachusetts lawmakers sent a letter to Patrick seeking Roche's resignation over concerns the department is failing to protect children in its care. The letter was written by Republican Reps. Ryan Fattman of Webster and Leah Cole of Peabody. Eight Democrats also signed the letter.

Charlie Baker, a Republican candidate for governor, has also called on Roche to step down.

Authorities say 2-week old Bailey Irish of Fitchburg was brought to the hospital on Saturday morning by her parents. She was pronounced dead a short time later.

DeLeo said a missing or lost fax is no excuse for DCF to lose track of a child.

"That was the end of the line for me," DeLeo said. "These are major incidents. We have children who are dying at this point."

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